Plumb-bob.



J. GAMBLLEE.

PLUMB BOB.

APPLIOATION FILED MAY 26, 1013.

Patented Oct. 21, 1913.

v a 1 w y 31 M E E Q T w w e 5 m 2 Z J a w y I (TIT WITNESSES ATTORNEYSCOLUMBIA PLANOGRAYH cl, WASHINGTON, u c.

EXQE.

JEULEOS GAMBLLEE, OF TENAFLY, NEXV JERSEY.

PLUMB-BOB.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed. May 26, 1913.

Patented @ct. 21, 1913.-

Serial No. 769,862.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, Jn'ULEos GAMBLLEE, acitizen of ti e United States, and a resident of Tenafiy, in the countyof Bergen and tltate of New Jersey, have invented a new and improvedPlumb-Bob, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription.

This invention relates to mechanics implements, and has particularreference to the novel construction of plumb bobs.

Among the objects of the invention is to provide a plumb bob, the bodyof which is adapted to house the cord by which the bob is suspendedwhilein use.

Another object of the invention is toimprove the construction whereby ina simple and reliable manner the drum or spindle on which the cord iswound when housed within the device may be manipulated either towithdraw the cord, to return the cord into the bob, or to lock it at anydesired length.

The foregoing and other objects of the invention will hereinafter bemore fully de scribed and claimed and illustrated in the drawingsforming a part of this specification in which like characters ofreference indicate corresponding parts in all the views, and in whichFigure 1 is a vertical sectional view indicating the construction ofthis device in a preferred embodiment; Fig. 2 is a transverse section onthe line 2-2 of Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is a side view, looking toward theright in Fig. 1, of certain parts removed from the interior of the shellof the device.

The seve'al parts of this device may be made of any suitable materials,and the relative sizes and proportions of the same may be varied to aconsiderable extent without departing from the spirit of the inventionhereinafter more fully set forth and specifically claimed.

In Fig. 1 I show a plumb bob of well known configuration and including apoint 10 having an upwardly projecting internally threaded flange 11 anda collar 12 having a downwardly projecting externally threaded flange 13upon which the point flange 11 is adapted to lit. The collar 12 has anupwardly projecting neck 14.

Vithin the interior of the bob or the easing composed of the flangedportions of the point and collar is a shell 15 of substantially tubularor hollow cylindrical formation, the axis of which is coincident withthe vertical axis of the plumb bob. The lower end of the shell 15 isfitted substantially snugly within the flange 13 of the collar and isprevented from rotation therein by means of studs 16 projectingoutwardly beyond said shell and entering notches 17 formed in the loweredge of the flange 13. A drum or shaft 18 is journaled transversely insaid shell 15 at substantially its center, and the lower or inner end ofthe plumb bob cord. 19 is fixed to said shaft. The upper portion of the.shell 15 is of less diameter than the lower portion, and a pinion 20 isfixed to said shaft on the outer side of theportion of the shell orbetween the shell and the flange 18 of the bob collar. A yoke 21 formedof flat sheet metal and formed into a substantially U-shaped structureis introduced into the interior of the shell, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2,and the shaft- 18 is passed therethrough, maintaining the yoke in theposition indicated. The purpose of this yoke, among others, is to guardthe cord 19 and prevent it from becoming entangled in the bearings inthe shell.

As a suitable means to control the opera tion of the shaft 18 andtherefore the length or position of the cord, 1 provide a crown gear 22fitted loosely upon the upper end of the shell and having teeth 23meshing with the teeth of the pinion 20. A hollow shank 24 extendsupwardly from the crown gear with its aXis coincident with the axis ofthe interior device and having a central bore 25 through which the cord19 extends outwardly, terminating in a ring or hanger 26. When the crowngear is free to rotate, a pull upon the hanger 26 will draw the cord outof the bob, unwinding the same from the shaft 18. During such operationof the cord, thecrown gear will be rotated by the pinion 20. I provide alock nut 27 adj ustably mounted upon the threaded portion 24 of theshank and adapted to impinge against the upper portion of the neck 14.This action of the lock nut locks the crown gear from rotation and henceprevents the rotation of the pinion and shaft. It will follow,therefore. that when the cord is drawn out as far as desired, a slightturn of the lock nut will lock the operating parts of the device andwill maintain the cord at the length indicated. l/Vhen it is desired,however, to return the cord within the casing, the lock nut 27 isloosened by a slight reverse movement, and then by rotating the crowngear as by operation upon the finger piece 28, the crown gear throughits engagement with the pinion will wind up the string within thecasing. The gear 22 being so much larger than the pinion 20, acomparatively few rotations of the finger piece and shank 24lto which itis connected will suffice to wind up the maximum amount of cord. Thefinger piece 28 is preferably keyed to the upper end of the shank bymeans of a set screw 29 for convenience of assembling or disassembling.

Having thus described my invention, 1

1 claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Pa tent r l. In a plumbbob, the combination of a twopart casing, a shell within the casing,ashaft journaled in the shell, a cord connected at one end to the shaftand wound thereupon, and means to control the winding and unwindingactions of the cord with respect to the shaft, said controlling meanscomprising a crown gear, a pinion in mesh with the gear, and meansextending upwardly from the crown gear to control the rotation thereoffrom the outside.

2. In a plumb bob, the combination of a hollow casing, a shell withinthe casing, a shaft journaled transversely of and in the shell, a pinionconnected to the shaft, a gear embracing the upper end of the shell andmeshing with said pinion, a shank having a central bore extendingupwardly from the said gear to the outside of the casing, a cordconnected at its inner end to the shaft and a crown gear rotatablyfitted upon the upper" end of the shell and meshing with said pinion, acord. connected at one end to the shaft 7 and maintained in positionthereon by said yoke, a screw threaded shank extending up wardly andaxially from said crown gear and having a central bore through whichsaid cordis extendechnieans at the upper end of the shank to rotate thesame in one direction to wind up the cord, and means I adjustable alongthe threaded portion of the shank and adapted to cooperate with theshell to prevent the rotation of the shank and crown 'ear substantiallas set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification 1nthe'presence of two subscriblng Witnesses.

JEULEO S GAlvlBLLEEJ \Vitnesses G120. L. BEELER, PHILIP D. RoLLHAUs.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

